The next Pennsylvania gubernatorial race got its unofficial start inside the hotels and private clubs of midtown Manhattan on Saturday. Known as the Pennsylvania Society, the weekend offers a series of private parties, fundraisers and networking events that brings the state's leading elected officials and political operatives to Manhattan every year.

Tom Wolf, a wealthy central Pennsylvania businessman and former state revenue secretary, said he is running for governor and vowed to put up at least $10 million of his own fortune in his campaign for the 2014 nomination.

"The logistical and financial challenges of moving my campaign forward have become too great to overcome," he said.

The 60-year-old Myers, a Pentecostal minister running his first election campaign in a highly competitive nomination race to take on Republican Gov. Tom Corbett's bid for a second term, raised and spent about $30,000 last year, according to his campaign-finance report.

The remaining candidates are York businessman Tom Wolf, U.S. Rep. Allyson Schwartz, state Treasurer Rob McCord, former state environmental-protection secretaries Katie McGinty and John Hanger, former state Auditor General Jack Wagner and Lebanon County Commissioner Jo Ellen Litz. Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski quit the race earlier this month.

Seven candidates also are competing for the Democratic nod for lieutenant governor.